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{{Short description|American television producer}}
{{one source|date=June 2011}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Mary-Ellis Bunim
| name = Mary-Ellis Bunim
Line 5: Line 6:
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|07|09|mf=y}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1946|07|09|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Northampton, Massachusetts]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| birth_place = [[Northampton, Massachusetts]], U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|01|29|1946|07|09|mf=y}}
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2004|01|29|1946|07|09|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Burbank, California]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| death_place = [[Burbank, California]], U.S.
| occupation = Television producer, TV Series co-creator
| height =
| other_names =
| children = 1
| spouse =
| years_active =
| website =
| notable role =
}}
}}

'''Mary-Ellis Bunim''' (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an [[United States|American]] [[television producer]] and co-creator of [[MTV]]'s ''[[The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]''.
'''Mary-Ellis Bunim''' (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an American [[television producer]] and co-creator of [[MTV]]'s ''[[The Real World (TV series)|The Real World]]'' and ''[[Road Rules]]''.


==Biography==
==Biography==
A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas. She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'' (1974–1981), ''[[As the World Turns]]'' (1981–1984), ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]'' (1984–1987) and ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.
A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas.<ref name="NYTobit">{{cite news |title=Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, a Producer and Pioneer in Reality TV |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/03/business/mary-ellis-bunim-57-a-producer-and-pioneer-in-reality-tv.html |accessdate=July 10, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |agency=[[Associated Press]] |date=February 3, 2004}}</ref> She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]'' (1974–1981), ''[[As the World Turns]]'' (1981–1984), ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]'' (1984–1987) and ''[[Loving (TV series)|Loving]]'' (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.


Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner [[Jonathan Murray]]. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and the ''Real World'' was born.
Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner [[Jonathan Murray]]. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and ''The Real World'' was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.
"We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.


Her company, [[Bunim/Murray Productions]], spearheaded the [[reality television|reality show]] genre. Among the numerous other reality programs and reality game show programs that Bunim co-created over the years, include: ''Road Rules''; ''Love Cruise''; ''Making the Band''; ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'' (formerly known as ''Real World/Road Rules Challenge'' and spun off from ''The Real World'' and ''Road Rules''); the reality feature film, ''[[The Real Cancun]]''; the real-life daily syndication, ''Starting Over''; as well as Fox's smash hit, ''The Simple Life''; etc.
Her company, [[Bunim/Murray Productions]], spearheaded the [[reality television|reality show]] genre. Among the numerous other reality programs and reality game show programs that Bunim co-created over the years, include: ''Road Rules''; ''Love Cruise''; ''Making the Band''; ''[[The Challenge (TV series)|The Challenge]]'' (formerly known as ''Real World/Road Rules Challenge'' and spun off from ''The Real World'' and ''Road Rules''); the reality feature film, ''[[The Real Cancun]]''; the real-life daily syndication, ''[[Starting Over (TV series)|Starting Over]]''; as well as Fox's ''[[The Simple Life]]''.<ref name="NYTobit"/>


==Death==
She died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with [[breast cancer]]. She is survived by her daughter, Juliana Bunim.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/30/obit.bunim/index.html|title='Real World' co-creator dies|date=2004-01-31|publisher=CNN.com|accessdate=2008-04-26}}</ref>
Bunim died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with [[breast cancer]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/30/obit.bunim/index.html|title='Real World' co-creator dies|date=January 31, 2004|publisher=[[CNN]]|accessdate=April 26, 2008}}</ref>


She is interred at [[Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]].<ref>[https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/reality-tv-s-founder-producer-bunim-dies-1117899295/ ''Variety'']</ref>
Bunim and Murray were inducted into the [[Television Academy Hall of Fame]] in 2012.

Bunim and Murray were inducted into the [[Television Academy Hall of Fame]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Flaherty |first1=Mike |title=Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray: Hall of Fame Tribute |url=https://www.emmys.com/news/hall-fame/mary-ellis-bunim-jonathan-murray-hall-fame-tribute |accessdate=July 10, 2018 |publisher=[[Emmys]] |date=January 8, 2018}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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== External links ==
== External links ==

* {{IMDb name|id=0120455|name=Mary-Ellis Bunim}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0120455|name=Mary-Ellis Bunim}}
* [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8337032/mary-ellis-bunim Mary-Ellis Bunim] At [[Find A Grave]]
* [http://realworld.mtv.com Official Website of The Real World]
* [http://roadrules.mtv.com Official Website of Road Rules]
* [http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/simplelife Official Website of The Simple Life]
* [http://www.bunim-murray.com Official Website of Bunim/Murray Productions]
* [http://www.mtv.com Official Website of MTV]
* [http://www.mtvn.com Official Website of MTV Networks]
* [http://www.viacom.com Official Website of Viacom]
* [http://www.cbscorporation.com Official Website of CBS Corporation]
* [http://www.national-amusements.com/ Official Website of National Amusements]
* [http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/15/news/newsmakers/redstone/ Brent Redstone]


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
<!--{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]''| before=Unknown | after=Fred Bartholomew | years=1974 - 1981}}-->
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Search for Tomorrow]]''| before= Bernie Sofronski| after= [[Freddie Bartholomew|Fred Bartholomew]] | years= January 1974 – October 1981}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[As the World Turns]]''| before=[[Freddie Bartholomew|Fred Bartholomew]]| after=Robert Calhoun | years=Fall 1981 – October 1984}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[As the World Turns]]''| before=[[Freddie Bartholomew|Fred Bartholomew]]| after=Robert Calhoun | years=Fall 1981 – October 1984}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]''<br>(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)| before=[[Bridget and Jerome Dobson]]<br>[[Jeffrey Hayden]] | after=[[Jill Farren Phelps]] | years=October 1984 – November 1987}}
{{succession box | title=Executive producer of ''[[Santa Barbara (TV series)|Santa Barbara]]''<br>(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)| before=[[Bridget and Jerome Dobson]]<br>[[Jeffrey Hayden]] | after=[[Jill Farren Phelps]] | years=October 1984 – November 1987}}
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{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}


{{RWRR|rel}}
{{RealWorld}}
{{RoadRules}}
{{TheChallenge}}
{{2012 Television Hall of Fame}}
{{2012 Television Hall of Fame}}


{{Authority control|VIAF=14143372}}
{{Authority control}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME= Bunim, Mary-Ellis
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION= Television producer
|DATE OF BIRTH= July 9, 1946
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Northampton, Massachusetts]], [[United States]]
|DATE OF DEATH= January 29, 2004
|PLACE OF DEATH= [[Burbank, California]], [[United States]]
}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunim, Mary-Ellis}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bunim, Mary-Ellis}}
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:1946 births]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:2004 deaths]]
[[Category:American television producers]]
[[Category:Television producers from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Soap opera producers]]
[[Category:American women television producers]]
[[Category:Deaths from breast cancer]]
[[Category:American soap opera producers]]
[[Category:Cancer deaths in California]]
[[Category:Deaths from breast cancer in California]]
[[Category:American reality television producers]]
[[Category:American reality television producers]]
[[Category:Actresses from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Actresses from Massachusetts]]
[[Category:People from Northampton, Massachusetts]]

[[Category:Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)]]
{{US-tv-producer-stub}}
[[Category:20th-century American women]]
[[Category:21st-century American women]]

Latest revision as of 02:49, 10 April 2024

Mary-Ellis Bunim
Born(1946-07-09)July 9, 1946
Northampton, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedJanuary 29, 2004(2004-01-29) (aged 57)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Television producer, TV Series co-creator
Children1

Mary-Ellis Bunim (July 9, 1946 – January 29, 2004) was an American television producer and co-creator of MTV's The Real World and Road Rules.

Biography[edit]

A native of Massachusetts, Bunim began her career in daytime dramas.[1] She oversaw more than 2,500 hours of programming as executive producer of Search for Tomorrow (1974–1981), As the World Turns (1981–1984), Santa Barbara (1984–1987) and Loving (1989–1990). She subsequently developed numerous shows in her job as VP of tape programs for New World Entertainment.

Bunim founded Bunim-Murray with business partner Jonathan Murray. Agent Mark Itkin of the William Morris Agency put the two together to develop a scripted soap opera for MTV. When that was too expensive, they decided to try an unscripted soap and The Real World was born. "We knew within 20 minutes of shooting that we had a show," Bunim said.

Her company, Bunim/Murray Productions, spearheaded the reality show genre. Among the numerous other reality programs and reality game show programs that Bunim co-created over the years, include: Road Rules; Love Cruise; Making the Band; The Challenge (formerly known as Real World/Road Rules Challenge and spun off from The Real World and Road Rules); the reality feature film, The Real Cancun; the real-life daily syndication, Starting Over; as well as Fox's The Simple Life.[1]

Death[edit]

Bunim died in Los Angeles at 57, after a lengthy battle with breast cancer.[2]

She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills).[3]

Bunim and Murray were inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2012.[4]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Mary-Ellis Bunim, 57, a Producer and Pioneer in Reality TV". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 3, 2004. Retrieved July 10, 2018.
  2. ^ "'Real World' co-creator dies". CNN. January 31, 2004. Retrieved April 26, 2008.
  3. ^ Variety
  4. ^ Flaherty, Mike (January 8, 2018). "Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray: Hall of Fame Tribute". Emmys. Retrieved July 10, 2018.

External links[edit]

Preceded by
Bernie Sofronski
 Executive producer of Search for Tomorrow
January 1974 – October 1981 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Executive producer of As the World Turns
Fall 1981 – October 1984 		Succeeded by
Robert Calhoun
Preceded by Executive producer of Santa Barbara
(with Bridget and Jerome Dobson)
October 1984 – November 1987 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Joseph Hardy
 Executive producer of Loving
December 3, 1989 – April 1990 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mary-Ellis_Bunim&oldid=1218162535"